UPDATED: Yanks sign Lyle Overbay

The Yankees signed first baseman Lyle Overbay to a minor league deal, tweets Erik Boland of Newsday. Overbay was released this morning by the rival Red Sox, who avoided a $100K retention bonus in the process.

Overbay, 36, hit .259/.331/.397 in 131 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks and Braves last year. He was squeezed out in Boston due to their Mike Carp acquisition, but has found a potential opportunity with the Yankees due to a wrist injury that will sideline first baseman Mark Teixeira into May in the best case.

It’s only a Minor League deal but it’s actually not surprising. As soon as they were rumblings that Overbay was on his way out of Boston people were saying how the Yankees would scoop him up.

Have at it in the comments!

Overbay just got to Steinbrenner Field. Said this is essentially a 3 day tryout; hopes that's enough time to make an impression

Stacey is co-Editor-in-Chief of It's About The Money, co-host of the It's About The Money, Stupid podcast and is a monthly contributor to ESPN's SweetSpot Blog. She is a former contributor at Aerys Sports and High Heat Stats. She has contributed to group projects at Baseball: Past And Present and the Hall of Stats. Her work has appeared in USA Today's Sports Weekly and most recently, she wrote four pieces for Derek Jeter: Celebrating the Yankees' Captain Clutch, a magazine printed by i5 Publishing.

15 thoughts on “UPDATED: Yanks sign Lyle Overbay”

Wasn't there ANYONE worse (older, more decrepit, farther down the slippery slope of decline) available?

I'm not in NYC – so I can't NOT buy a season ticket. I can, however, pass on MLB.TV this year.

March 26, 2013

Andrew

Don't fret — I'm sure Mike Edes is busy composing a post right now as to why Lyle Overbay will turn into the second coming of Don Mattingly now that he's in pinstripes.

March 26, 2013

denis oconnor

I guess Nick Johnson was not available.

March 26, 2013

Arnie

Stacy, do you report this just to give us Yankee fans that "warm and fuzzy" feeling? Well, how about the
Dan Otero pick up? Does that shore up the bullpen? I'm getting kind of ill!

March 26, 2013

srosegots

Haha. I forgot about poor Dan Otero. My bad.

I was working on something for tomorrow when the Overbay news came across the wire, so to speak.

March 26, 2013

brian

Again, Hal Steinbrenner NEVER wanted this… he only agreed to take control of the team because Steve Swindal (the son in law) fell out of favor…

We're all seeing now why this was the case, Hal knew he was ill suited to run this type of business. he's a finance geek, a cut throat, self centered businessman.. running a type of "public business" like a sports team isn't suited to his style.. he's better off running businesses outside the public eye where he can be as cheap and selfish as he likes and no one cares

March 26, 2013

Scout

Why wouldn't Yankee fans want to see the 2007 Blue Jays resurrected in pin stripes? After all, that was a great team…..

March 26, 2013

Gene

I dont get hate on this. It's a minor league deal and the Yankees first baseman right now is Juan Rivera, who couldn't pick a wedgie right now. And I'd really like to know who is available that would be considerably better than him. Headley is hurt so no trade for him and while I'd love to see them trade for Olt but I dont think Cash will give up the extra guy it would take to pry him loose. Also, its a short term fix, remember that even if Tex misses the entire year he's still on contract for the until 2017, and I think Jeets recent ankle troubles foreshadow a shift to 3B or outfield in the near future.

Not sure if it's hate about this specific move but rather hate about the entire tone and tempo of this offseason. The collection of discarded parts many deem as unbefitting a team like the Yankees, right or wrong.

March 26, 2013

Andrew

Also, there's no "extra player to get Mike Olt"; that was always just a deranged fantasy from the cheerleader set. Olt is one of the most valuable commodities in baseball right now and the Rangers are holding on to him until they get the player they want at the ASB.

As for Overbay: in isolation, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this move. What's wrong is when the cheerleader set comes along to try and persuade you that cast-offs are the key to winning the pennant.

March 26, 2013

Gene

No one in their right mind would suggest Vernon Wells or Lyle Overbay are going to be the difference between a world series and finishing last in the division, but being optimistic and staying realistic about the things the yankees are doing is a lot better than being pessimistic about any move not involving a superstar. And for the record, the Giants have managed to win the world series 2 out of the last 3 years with perennial cast offs in Cody Ross and Marco Scutaro making significant contributions.

March 26, 2013

Andrew

Lyle Overbay's OPS+ the last two seasons: 85, 93
Vernon Wells's OPS+ the last two seasons: 83, 91

Cody Ross's OPS+ the last two seasons: 106, 113
Marco Scutaro's OPS+ the last two seasons: 110, 99

So I think this is not really a good argument.

March 26, 2013

Gene

I get that but there really weren't options this offseason. Maybe they should have resigned Martin but it's not something I've been up in arms about. I'd rather have them spend in 2014 and 2015 than get locked in to something this offseason that they really didn't need (aside from Martin). I don't count Pierzynski because I think its foolish to spend for a catcher coming off his career year in his age 37 season.

March 26, 2013

denis oconnor

Rather than these has retreads, I would rather see if the Yanks could pry Justin Morneau away from the Twins.

March 26, 2013

Mrv

It's a good move if tex comes back within 2 months . This is the Yankees and its all about winning. If these guys can hold down the fort it's worth it .